LSG vs MI Preview – Lucknow, Mumbai eye Top 2 spot
As the race for the top four heats up, Lucknow Super Giants are gearing up to host the in-form Mumbai Indians in a proverbial four-pointer at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow on Tuesday, May 16. The home side, who completed a sensational comeback victory against Sunrisers Hyderabad in their last outing, won both their games against Mumbai last season.
While the Lucknow-based franchise has been in the news in the last few days for all the wrong reasons, their power-hitters flexed their muscles in the last game to revive their spiraling campaign. A victory for Krunal Pandya’s team will see them leapfrog their upcoming opponents in the points table.
Talking about their opponents, Mumbai Indians are looking like their former selves after winning four of their last five matches. They will be on cloud nine after their resounding success against league leaders Gujarat Titans in a run-fest in their last outing. Rohit Sharma’s men will be looking for a victory against LSG that would strengthen their place in the top half of the table.
Pitch and conditions
The surface in Lucknow has come under scrutiny this season for its sluggish nature. Run scoring has been a tasking work for the batters, with the spinners troubling them with prodigious turn and grip on a slow track. The team winning the toss would be inclined to bat first at this venue given the nature of the pitch.
Venue details: Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow
Last T20 match at the venue: LSG- 125/7 (19.2 overs) CSK- DNB
Here’s the probable playing XI for Lucknow Super Giants vs Mumbai Indians:
Lucknow Super Giants
It was a Nicholas Pooran show in the later stages of the game against SRH, which sealed a much-needed victory for their side. Given the nature of the surface, the LSG batters, especially the openers, will need to change their approach at the start of the innings.
Mumbai Indians
The five-time champions are firing on all cylinders with the bat in the second half of the tournament, with star middle-order batter Suryakymar Yadav in prime touch. However, they will need to tinker with their approach against the LSG bowlers, especially the spinners, on a sluggish surface in Lucknow.
